Methods and apparatus for user-selectable programmable housing skin sensors for user mode optimization and control

• US 8,107,878 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid M, Gitzinger, Thomas E
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/936,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20090117951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.1, 455/411, 455/78, 455/415, 455/41.2, 455/434, 455/420, 455/419, 455/462, 455/41.1, 324/658, 345/169, 340/5.52, 340/5.74, 700/236, 700/231, 707/770, 361/679.01
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An embodiment relates generally to a method of operating a device. The method includes providing for a plurality of sensors, where each sensor is configured to sense and transmit data values associated with an interaction with the device by a user. A subset of the sensors of the plurality of sensors is associated with a respective facing on a housing of the device. The method also includes operating the plurality of sensors to detect the interaction with the device by the user and receiving sensor data associated with the interaction from the plurality of sensors. The method further includes determining a user mode of the device based on the sensor data associated with the interaction.

Claims

1. A method of operating a device, the method comprising:

providing for a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to sense and transmit data values associated with an interaction with the device by a user, wherein a subset of the sensors of the plurality of sensors is associated with a respective facing on a housing of the device;

operating the plurality of sensors to detect the interaction with the device by the user;

receiving sensor data associated with the interaction from the plurality of sensors;

determining a user mode of the device based on the sensor data associated with the interaction;

entering a learning mode;

providing at least one training image associated with a first user mode; and

collecting sensor data values from the plurality of sensors as a user implements the at least one training image for a predetermined amount of time as a first user mode configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the user mode of the device further comprises comparing the sensor data associated with the interaction to pre-stored sensor data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second interaction with the device by the user;

receiving sensor data associated with the second interaction from the plurality of sensors; and

determining a second user mode of the device based on the sensor data associated with the second interaction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the sensor data; and

modifying an operating parameter of the device based on the changed sensor data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the first user mode configuration data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors during the first user mode as operating data; and

comparing the operating data with the first user mode configuration data.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the at least one training image in response to the operating data associated with the first user mode exceeding a predetermined deviation threshold with the first user mode configuration data and the device being in the first user mode.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising updating the first user mode configuration data with the operating data in response to the operating data not exceeding a pre-determined deviation threshold with the configuration data and the device being in the first user mode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the user based on the interaction of the user with the device.

10. An apparatus for customizing a user experience, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a housing configured to enclose the controller;

a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to sense and transmit data values to the controller in response to an interaction with the apparatus by a user, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a side of the housing; and

a user personalization module coupled with the controller and configured to personalize the device by storing a plurality of user modes, wherein the controller is configured to receive sensor data associated with the interaction from the plurality of sensors; and

to determine a selected user mode from the plurality of user modes based on the received sensor data associated with the interaction from the plurality of sensors, wherein the user personalization module is further configured to enter a configuration mode, to display a predetermined graphical image associated with at least one user mode of the plurality of user modes; and

to collect a set of configuration data from the plurality of sensors based on the user implementing the predetermined graphical image.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user personalization module is configured to collect a set of operating data from the plurality of sensors for the selected user mode and to compare the set of operating data with the set of configuration data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user personalization module is further configured to enter the configuration mode in response to the set of operating data associated with the user mode exceeding a pre-determined variation threshold with the set of configuration data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user personalization module is further configured to replace the configuration data with a second set of configuration data collected from the plurality of sensors in response to the user implementing the predetermined graphical image associated with the user mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user personalization module is configured to update the set of the configuration data with the set of operating data associated with the user mode in response to the set of operating data not exceeding a pre-determined variation threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user personalization module is further configured to detect a second interaction with the apparatus by the user;

to receive sensor data associated with the second interaction from the plurality of sensors; and

to determine a second user mode of the apparatus based on the sensor data associated with the second interaction.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user personalization module is further configured to detect a second interaction with the apparatus by the user;

to receive sensor data associated with the second interaction from the plurality of sensors; and

to modify an operating parameter of the apparatus based on the sensor data associated with the second interaction.

17. A method of personalizing a mobile telephone, the method comprising:

providing for a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to sense and transmit data values associated with an interaction with the mobile telephone by a user, wherein a subset of the sensors of the plurality of sensors is associated with a respective facing on a housing of the mobile telephone;

storing a plurality of user modes for the mobile telephone, each user mode associated with a set of sensor values from the plurality of sensors;

operating the plurality of sensors to detect a current interaction with the mobile telephone by the user; and

selecting a user mode of the mobile telephone based on the sensor data from the plurality of sensors associated with the current interaction;

entering a configuration mode for the mobile telephone;

providing a graphical image associated with a selected user mode;

sensing sensor data values from the plurality of sensors as a configuration data in response to the user interacting with the mobile telephone as displayed by the graphical image; and

associating the configuration data with the selected user mode.